Judge halts tree removal at Washington's East Potomac Golf Links
A U.S. federal judge, Ana Reyes, has temporarily barred the Trump administration from cutting, pruning or damaging trees at the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., after more than 500 trees had already been felled. Reyes ordered the government to give ten business days' written notice before any irreversible change to the park. She described the removed trees as healthy and non-hazardous. The ruling followed a lawsuit by the DC Preservation League and two golfers. President Donald Trump has said he will appeal and that renovation will still begin in November, with the course closing on 15 Nov.
Key facts
- Reyes called the removal of hundreds of trees over a weekend inexcusable.
- The order was issued in a 70-page document filed on 26 Oct.
- Trump announced on 18 Oct that the course would close for 15 months from 15 Nov.
- The Justice Department had asked the judge to disregard Trump's statements about the renovation plans.
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Why it matters
The ruling pauses a planned overhaul of a century-old public course and sets notice rules for further changes to the site.
What changed
First published from Hindustan Times, The Straits Times, RTÉ News, The Independent and The Hindu